CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1943, Page 4

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

INDIVIDUALITY AT STAKE

To the Editor. The recent notable articles in the Star on the need for progressive leadership and personality in public affairs in New Zealand point to the grave dangers to these qualities growing up in this great little country. To-day these qualities are being suppressed as never before in our history. Regulations and restrictions - on personal liberty continue to flood the country, some 2000 Orders in Council having been issued by our Democratic Government under the cloak of "Win the War" in recent years. Public opinion and Parliament together have not been consulted on one of these measures and reasonable criticism has been muzzled. Public scandals, such as the misuse of manpower, the food and vegetable rackets, extravagance waste on defence projects in New Zealand, treatment of returned soldiers, suppression of the majorities' rights in licensing laws in New Zealand and bureaucracy spreading like a plague everywhere. A picture of England before the passing of the Reform Bill of 1832 almost reflects canditions to-day in New Zealand. "Narrow mindedness was then deeply entrenched in all the regions of power. Authority and privilege, whether political or social —had dug itself in." W.D.K.